Brake



Feb. 23, 194-1. LOWEKE 2,311,765

' BRAKE Filed Aug. 16, 1940 fe W/N I'TfLOWE/(E and I8.

Patents STATES Erwin F. Loweke, Detroit, ltflcln, assignor' to Hydraulie Brake Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of California Application August 16, 1940, Serial No. 352,977

g In Canada Qctober 10, 1939 1 Claim- (Cl. 188-78) This invention relates to brakes, and more particularly to brakes for motor vehicles.

An object of the invention is to provide a brake structure including a drum, a pair of shoes for cooperation therewith, and means for anchoring the shoes so that torque introduced by frictional engagement of the shoes with the drum is transmitted in directions intercepting radii of the anchor outside of the radius of the anchor center.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description,

taken "in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which,

'Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a brake illustrating apreferred embodiment of the invention, the anchor and automatic adjusters and the particular arrangement of the latter; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view substantially on line 22, Fig. 1,.

In the illustrated embodiment of thisinvention, the brake includes a fixed support or backplate 22. The raised portion andthe reinforcing spaced from the head. This shoulder bears on the perimeter defining the bore in the backing plate, and the outer end of the anchor post is peened as indicated at 36 so as to retain the post against displacement. A pair of corresponding short links 32 and 34 are pivoted on the anchor post 24 between suitable spacers 36, and a spring wa'sher 38 sleeved on the post between the links and the head of the post with a washer 40 interposed'serves to frictionally clamp the links and to yieldingly resist angular movement thereof. The links are ofi-set as indicated at 42 and 64. so that the free ends thereof may be within a plane common to both links. The ends of the links are notched, and plates 68 and 48 suitably secured to the sides of the links bridge the notches to provide sockets Eli and 52. I

A pair of corresponding interchangeable fricthe extensions 84 on the webs 58 of the shoes, the

tion elements or shoes 54 and 5B are supported on the backing plate. Each of the shoes includes a web 58 supporting a rim 6!! having suitably secured thereto a friction lining 62 for cooperation with the drum. The webs 58 at the articulate ends of the shoes have extensions 64 rounded to fit the sockets 50 and 52 in the free ends of the links-32 and 34,. and pins 66 passed transversely through the extensions 84 and the plates 46 and 48 on the sides of the links serve to attach the shoes to the links.

During a'braking operation, the extensions 64 on the webs of the shoes serve to transmit torque from the shoes through the links 32 and 34 to the anchor post 24. Because of the position of lines of torque so transmitted are slightly below the anchor post, that is, the line of force acting through the pins 86 causes rotation oi! the links 32 and 34 about the anchor whereby the torque transmitted to the shoes from the drum follows variable radial lines of greater radius than the anchor center about the axis of the drum. This has a tendency to turn the links 32 and 34 on the anchor post against the resistance of the spring washer 38, and to swing the articulate ends of the shoes into engagement with the drum so as to more efiectively apply the shoe, and, as the to angular movement of the links by the spring washer 88.

At the force applying ends of the shoes, the webs 58 have extensions 68 connected to a fluid pressure actuated motor ll! suitably mounted on the backing plate between the shoes, and a retractile spring 12 connects the shoes adjacent their force applying ends. The motor is operative to actuate the shoes into engagement with the drum against the resistance of the retractile spring.

Mounted on the webs of the shoes-are automatic adjusters, indicated generally at 14. Each of the adjusters includes a drum engaging member 76 mounted upon and. movable transversely of the shoe, and a lever 18 fulcrumed on the shoes and connected to the drum engaging member, actuated by movement of the member and for cooperating withthe associated stop for supporting theshoe in proper spaced relation to the drum when the brake is at rest.

While this invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments,

the principle involved is susceptible of numerous other applications that will readily occur to persons skilled'in the art. The invention is, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the various features of the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentv is,

A brake comprising a fixed support, a rotatable drum associated therewith, an anchor on the support, a pair of adjustable stops on the support,

1 merits.

a pair of links pivoted on the anchor having sockets in their free ends, a spring washer sleeved on the anchor for clamping the links and introducing frictional resistance to angular movement thereof, friction elements pivoted in the sockets in the free ends of the links for cooperation with the drum, automatic adJusters carried by the Eriction elements and cooperating with the drum and stops, and a motor for actuating the friction ele- ERW'IN F. LOWEKE. 

